Former Royal Marine from Buxton assaults his sister

A former Royal Marine from Buxton pressed down so hard on his sister’s neck that she almost passed out, a court heard.

Charlene Salthouse called police on February 20 after being assaulted by her brother John, High Peak Magistrates’ Court heard.

Ms Salthouse told police her brother had been in the Royal Marines but had left nine months earlier and returned to the family home on Sherwood Road in Buxton, prosecutor Jennifer Fitzgerald said.

On the day of the offence, Ms Salthouse was hoovering the living room and had moved the sofa so it was blocking the door while she cleaned.

But when her brother couldn’t get into the living room, he demanded she moved the sofa and threatened to slap her. After finishing the hoovering, Ms Salthouse went upstairs to her bedroom but her brother followed and demanded an apology.

She refused and Salthouse pushed her, causing her to fall backwards onto the bed.

He then “straddled her whilst she was lay on the bed and used his forearm to press on her neck to the point where she wasn’t able to talk or breathe and began seeing stars, feeling like she was going to black out,” Mrs Fitzgerald said.

Once he released Ms Salthouse, she had to use her inhaler to help her breathe.

Salthouse was interviewed twice and refused to comment.

The 23-year-old, who now lives at Boatmans Walk, Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted assault by beating.

Kirsten Collings, defending, said: “The defendant does accept he pushed the complainant on the bed. He has entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity.

“He showed remorse to the probation officer.

“He is before the court for assaulting his sister. It is a different type of domestic violence than violence between partners.

“There is an element of that type of behaviour between brothers and sisters but he accepts that his behaviour was inappropriate and unacceptable.

“He accepts the comment made in the pre-sentence report about being unable to manage his emotions and control his temper.”

Salthouse was given a 12-month community order with a requirement to attend a rehabilitation activity and 120 hours’ unpaid work. He must also pay £85 costs and a £60 surcharge,

He was also given a 12-month restraining order banning him from contacting his sister in any way, or going to her home address.